Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer out today
'There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?' asks the teaser
The trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit Apple iTunes Friday morning sending millions of fans into a frenzy. People were poised around their devices in anticipation of the much-hyped first look at the seventh film in the franchise, and the initial reaction is overwhelmingly positive.
- On mobile? Watch the trailer here
"There has been an awakening. Have you felt it?" asks an ominous voice as the trailer begins. Then the camera pans over a sandy landscape, that looks like the desert planet Tatooine, and actor John Boyega pops into frame as a panicked-looking stormtrooper.
"I'm excited," admits CBC film critic Eli Glasner moments after viewing the 88-second tease.
"It looks like [director] J.J. Abrams has pulled off an impressive balancing act, by giving us the Star Wars retro-futuristic feel, while at the same time updating the franchise's style."
Special theatre engagement
Disney and Lucasfilm are also releasing the trailer in a special engagement at 30 North American theatres to coincide with the American Thanksgiving holiday, and people are lining up outside to be among the first to see it on the big screen.
The teaser will play ahead of every movie from Friday morning until Sunday, but only two Canadian theatres are participating.
- The Yonge and Dundas Cineplex in Toronto.
- The Riverport Cineplex in Vancouver.
The latest instalment in the Star Wars saga is set 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, and features original Star Wars actors, including Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa and Harrison Ford as Han Solo.
Earlier this year, 72-year-old Ford broke his ankle during filming, reportedly on the door of the Millennium Falcon spacecraft.
- PHOTOS | New Star Wars cast a mix of familiar, new faces
- REACTION | CBC readers weigh in on the new trailer
The Force Awakens is slated for wide release on Dec. 18, 2015.
Corrections
- An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the movie would be opening for wide release on Dec. 15, 2015. The correct release date is Dec. 18, 2015.Nov 28, 2014 12:47 PM ET